Crazy for You

Crazy for You
Name	Crazy for You
Music	George Gershwin
Lyrics	Ira Gershwin
Book	Ken Ludwig
Basis	Songs of George and Ira Gershwin
Productions	1992 Broadway

Crazy for You Crazy for You is a 1992 musical romantic comedy built around the songs of George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin with a new book by Ken Ludwig. The show premiered in Broadway after an earlier West End development, combining classic American popular song with a dance-heavy staging inspired by Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, and the choreography traditions of Bob Fosse. The score draws on standards associated with Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Benny Goodman, and Duke Ellington.

Background and development

The revue-style concept originated with producers Roger Horchow, Elizabeth Williams, Nicholas Hytner, and David Mirvish who sought to revive the catalog of George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin following renewed interest from performers like Judy Garland and Barbra Streisand. Early creative meetings involved musical supervisors referencing arrangements by Billy Mayerl, Gershwin's original orchestrations, and adaptations used in films starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. Director Mike Ockrent and choreographer Susan Stroman reworked dance sequences influenced by earlier choreographers such as Hermes Pan and Earle Hagen. Casting decisions took place amid discussions with theatrical institutions including The Shubert Organization, Nederlander Organization, and producers connected to Royal National Theatre and The Old Vic.

Ken Ludwig crafted a new narrative around a love story and a revival of a failing theater—a structure resonant with plots from Show Boat and Singin' in the Rain adaptations. Music supervision referenced recordings by Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong, Fred Astaire (recordings), and arrangements previously used in productions at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center. The creative team negotiated rights with the Gershwin estate and representatives of ASCAP and worked with orchestral contractors familiar with New York Philharmonic and Boston Symphony Orchestra personnel for pit scoring.

Plot

Set in 1930s America, the plot follows a young, affluent man who poses as a down-on-his-luck performer to win the heart of a small-town girl and to save a local theater. The story references archetypal Hollywood-era scenarios seen in films associated with MGM, RKO Pictures, and stars like Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. The protagonist’s schemes bring him into conflict with a wealthy antagonist connected to the local machine led by figures reminiscent of characters from Guys and Dolls and Annie Get Your Gun. Subplots involve community efforts to stage a show, echoing revivals at venues such as The Globe Theatre and fundraising drives akin to historical campaigns tied to Carnegie Hall.

Throughout, musical numbers propel romance, comedy, and community solidarity, drawing on standards performed by Billy Holiday, Tony Bennett, Nat King Cole, and others. Set pieces culminate in a lavish production number that evokes the Broadway traditions of Palace Theatre, St. James Theatre, and revue spectacles associated with Ziegfeld.

Principal roles and original cast

- Bobby Child — original cast member Harry Groener in the Broadway production; the role requires tap and ballroom techniques similar to Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly. - Polly Baker — original cast member Jill Paice in later revivals; original Broadway casting included performers with backgrounds in companies like American Ballet Theatre and Martha Graham Dance Company. - Bela Zangler — comic antagonist often compared to characters played by Edward Everett Horton and Rex Harrison. - Lank Hawkins — supporting role originated by actors with credits in Sweeney Todd and Oklahoma! regional productions. - Ensemble — included dancers and singers recruited from institutions such as Juilliard School, Royal Ballet School, and conservatories that feed Broadway.

Productions and notable revivals

The show opened in the West End before transferring to Broadway with a premiere at the George Gershwin Theatre in 1992 under producers associated with Shubert Organization and Nederlander Organization. Key productions played at venues including Prince of Wales Theatre, Lyric Theatre, and regional houses like Longacre Theatre and Orpheum Theatre. Revivals and tours featured stagings by companies such as Royal Shakespeare Company affiliates and touring producers linked to Nederlander Producing Company and Theatre Royal Drury Lane alumni. Notable revivals have been mounted by regional theaters like Goodman Theatre, Guthrie Theater, and university programs at Yale School of Drama.

International productions have appeared in cities including London, Toronto, Melbourne, Sydney, and Tokyo, often involving directors with credits at Royal National Theatre and choreographers trained in methods used at Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.

Musical numbers

The show’s songlist draws from the Gershwin songbook: standards such as "Someone to Watch Over Me", "Embraceable You", "I Got Rhythm", "Nice Work If You Can Get It", and "They Can't Take That Away from Me". Orchestration references recordings by Columbia Records, Decca Records, and arrangers who worked with ensembles like Count Basie Orchestra and Duke Ellington Orchestra. Dance-heavy sequences incorporate tap styles from innovators like Bill "Bojangles" Robinson and stagecraft traditions championed at Radio City Music Hall. The musical features ensemble numbers, romantic duets, and comedic patter songs in the vaudeville lineage associated with Tin Pan Alley performers.

Recordings and adaptations

Original cast recordings were released on major labels with producers linked to Sony Classical and Decca Records, often marketed alongside compilations of George Gershwin works. The cast album featured principal soloists, big-band arrangements, and orchestral reductions performed by musicians from unions such as American Federation of Musicians. Adaptations include licensed stage versions for regional theaters, amateur rights administered by organizations like Music Theatre International and broadcast performances for specials produced by networks including PBS and BBC. Choreography sequences have been recreated for dance workshops affiliated with Royal Academy of Dance and educational programs at Juilliard School.

Critical reception and legacy

Upon opening, the musical received awards from institutions such as the Tony Awards, Laurence Olivier Awards, and critics from publications tied to outlets like The New York Times, The Guardian, Variety, and The New Yorker. Reviews praised choreography and revival of the Gershwin catalog while noting the book’s homage to classical Hollywood musicals starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. The production influenced subsequent revues and jukebox musicals alongside works paying tribute to composers like Cole Porter, Irving Berlin, Stephen Sondheim, and Rodgers and Hammerstein. Its legacy persists in conservatory programs, in revivals at repertory houses, and in recordings celebrated by collectors of American popular music and historians of Broadway history.

Category:Musicals